Open AccessA Statewide Public Health Approach to Improving Organ Donation: The Massachusetts Organ Donation Initiative
Author(s) -
Howard K. Koh,
Marsha D. Jacobson,
Anne Marie Lyddy,
Kevin O’Connor,
Sean Fitzpatrick,
Milly Krakow,
Christine M. Judge,
Hillel R. Alpert,
Richard S. Luskin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2005.077701
Subject(s) - organ donation , general partnership , public health , medicine , procurement , donation , organ procurement , population , political science , business , environmental health , nursing , transplantation , law , surgery , marketing
Despite the growing disparity between organ supply and demand in the United States, few initiatives have attempted to close the gap through systematic population-based public health endeavors. We examined the evolution, implementation, and outcomes of the Massachusetts Organ Donation Initiative, a statewide effort that included a unique partnership among organ procurement organizations, major teaching hospitals, and the state's department of public health. Lessons from this initiative have contributed to growing national efforts for increasing organ supply and have provided insights for addressing this continuing public health challenge.